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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Louise Lavigueur

Only Fools and Horses star unrecognisable years after playing Del Boy's son Damien

It's been two decades since Ben Smith appeared in Only Fools and Horses, with him having first played Del Boy Trotter's son Damien Trotter in a festive special that aired in 2001.

Ben now unsurprisingly looks much different from his younger self more than 20 years after playing David Jason 's on-screen son in the special episode of the BBC sitcom.

His character Damien - considered a chip off the old block - had a tendency to wind up his uncle Rodney Trotter (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst ) and got up to mischief.

It wasn't the only appearance from the actor, as Ben played the character on two other occasions between 2001 and 2003, which is when the beloved show last aired.

Ben Smith (front centre) played Damien Trotter in Only Fools and Horses (BBC)

Ben has previously shared pride over having been one of the six actors to play Damien on the show. He spoke about the character at an Only Fools fan convention in 2012.

He told iFL TV: "I think Damien really is a modern young Del Boy maybe a young Del Boy that we never actually saw from when the series started but from all the references we get from the show from when he was younger he seemed like a real 'jack the lad'.

"So I'd imagine that Damien just really is a kind of typical modern young version of him kinda keeping up-to-date with the modern rap and all that sort of culture."

He went on to appear in EastEnders (BBC)

Ben further stated at the convention in Peterborough that the fanbase from the show is still "strong," despite the sitcom having not aired any new episodes since 2003.

Since playing Damien on the show, Ben has appeared in TV projects like Doctor Who, Silent Witness, the Accused, Scott & Bailey, Holby City. He's also been in films like Nowhere Boy.

He's also appeared in EastEnders, with him having played Tegs Teague in four episodes that aired in 2008.

His other credits include the Accused (RSJ FILMS)

His character was the leader of a gang known as 'the E20' who stole from the market, harassed Dot Branning (June Brown), and tried to verbally abuse Shirley Carter ( Linda Henry ).

Tegs wreaked havoc in Albert Square over a short period and he eventually stabbed Jay Brown ( Jamie Borthwick ) before getting arrested. The character hasn't returned since.

Ben's other credits include appearing in an episode of crime drama No Offence in 2015 and he more recently played the role of Robbie Lennox in the TV series Resistance in 2019.

He also appeared in drama Resistance (RTE)

It's a sequel to TV series Rebellion, which aired in 2016 and was set during the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. The follow-up series was instead set a number of years later.

Ben's other TV credits include Spooks, Misfits, Whitechapel, Skins, Doctors and The Bill. His other film credits include roles in projects like Come Out of the Woods and Passer By.

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